So I found a 1967 Remington 788 in 22-250. It has a beech stock stained to a walnut brown. It's a brand new rifle with few if any rounds fired. I'm very well pleased with it but the stock looks cheap! The color is fine,it's the shiny finish.Finally my question;if I simply removed the lacquer or varnish...whatever it is chemically without disturbing the wood or it's color and replaced it with a tru-oil finish ...would that help? I don't really want to remove the color because beech wood doesn't take a stain very evenly. Question two;will it turn my $450.00US rifle into a $200 gun by refinishing? Thanks, James
SaskThunder
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On for Pete's sake, a 788, ANY 788 is NOT some prima donna pre 64 Winchester fancy safari grade in 375 HnH. What ever can be done to the stock of a 788 will not detract from its value, trust me. A real 788 collector isn't collecting them because they are pretty. 
That shiny finish, with any use at all, will soon look like excrement. It will crack, chip and peal, leaving the rifle looking like an even cheaper version of itself.
Strip it off with ZipStrip, get rid of all the "fuzzies" by steaming the grain and rubbing with 00 to 0000 steel wool. I was surprised how well beech can look after applying a real hand rubbed boiled linseed oil finish over a light walnut stain.
RJ
That shiny finish, with any use at all, will soon look like excrement. It will crack, chip and peal, leaving the rifle looking like an even cheaper version of itself.
Strip it off with ZipStrip, get rid of all the "fuzzies" by steaming the grain and rubbing with 00 to 0000 steel wool. I was surprised how well beech can look after applying a real hand rubbed boiled linseed oil finish over a light walnut stain.
RJ
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13,503 Posts
Only using Winchesters as an example, I easily could have used H&H or Purdy or Griffin and Howe.
The thing is, the OP's rifle isn't any of the above. It's a 788, it has cheap a birch or beech wood stock with a gawdy gloss finish that with any use at all is going to look like this 788 circa 1973 with its original finish.
That's not from abuse, but from being carried, shot, leaned against trees/fence posts/tires/door trim/sagebrush in the snow/rain/15% humidity/100° heat.
When ever I get someplace besides Craig Colorado I'm on the search for 788's. I currently have three 788's carp, how many do you have?
SaskThunder, whatever you do to that stock isn't going to detract from its value more than $10. The first one I refinished (a 1978 vintage) I did as a winter project. I'm not sure how many coats of linseed oil it got, but it sure felt better against my cheek than the dime store finish Remington put on it. Felt soft and warm, not all sticky and cheep.
You do what you want, it's your rifle and you're the one who has to look at it or worry about how much it's going to be worth. I've seen beat to death 788's with gross and disgusting Houge stocks in the $450 range with no dicker room.
RJ
The thing is, the OP's rifle isn't any of the above. It's a 788, it has cheap a birch or beech wood stock with a gawdy gloss finish that with any use at all is going to look like this 788 circa 1973 with its original finish.
That's not from abuse, but from being carried, shot, leaned against trees/fence posts/tires/door trim/sagebrush in the snow/rain/15% humidity/100° heat.
When ever I get someplace besides Craig Colorado I'm on the search for 788's. I currently have three 788's carp, how many do you have?
SaskThunder, whatever you do to that stock isn't going to detract from its value more than $10. The first one I refinished (a 1978 vintage) I did as a winter project. I'm not sure how many coats of linseed oil it got, but it sure felt better against my cheek than the dime store finish Remington put on it. Felt soft and warm, not all sticky and cheep.
You do what you want, it's your rifle and you're the one who has to look at it or worry about how much it's going to be worth. I've seen beat to death 788's with gross and disgusting Houge stocks in the $450 range with no dicker room.
RJ
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13,503 Posts
No comparing the 788 and 80's Savage 110. Even Mustang II's have a following, although there weren't any at this year's Mustang Roundup in Steamboat.
Maybe that's our difference Carp, I don't buy a firearm to look at no matter how pretty or for its collectable value, but I do have a few that are priceless.
A friend at work bought her husband a 1 of 500 1894 in some classic cartridge commemorating something Colorado. Deepest snow in January, hottest day in July, I don't know, but knowing I was a firearms enthusiast, she brought it to work for me to look at. While it was beautifully crafted it just didn't do anything for me as I held in in my white cotton gloved hands (yes, for real) knowing it would never be fired, only to be looked at from behind the glass of its lovely green felt lined oak presentation case with the box of commemorative ammo and signed certificate of authenticity. I couldn't tell her that though, it would have been like telling her, yes, those jeans with blingles on the back pockets really do make your butt look big er.
I hope my breath or the weight of my heavy gaze didn't cause it's value to decrease
RJ
Maybe that's our difference Carp, I don't buy a firearm to look at no matter how pretty or for its collectable value, but I do have a few that are priceless.
A friend at work bought her husband a 1 of 500 1894 in some classic cartridge commemorating something Colorado. Deepest snow in January, hottest day in July, I don't know, but knowing I was a firearms enthusiast, she brought it to work for me to look at. While it was beautifully crafted it just didn't do anything for me as I held in in my white cotton gloved hands (yes, for real) knowing it would never be fired, only to be looked at from behind the glass of its lovely green felt lined oak presentation case with the box of commemorative ammo and signed certificate of authenticity. I couldn't tell her that though, it would have been like telling her, yes, those jeans with blingles on the back pockets really do make your butt look big er.
I hope my breath or the weight of my heavy gaze didn't cause it's value to decrease
RJ
Joined
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13,503 Posts
Good for you. Just don't let it get wet, sit in the sun, get cold . . . . . . . etc.
RJ
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